Mayor hopes to increase number of direct Taichung-Shanghai flights

2012/07/05 21:36:01

Shanghai, July 5 (CNA) Increasing the number of direct flights between Taichung and Shanghai will be a priority for the two cities to improve bilateral ties , Taichung Mayor Jason Hu said in Shanghai Thursday.

Hu said after the completion of an expansion project at the Ching-Chuan-Kang Airport in the city next year, the number of flights between the two cities will increase, which will help promote bilateral trade, economic, tourism and culture exchanges.

Hu, who was visiting Shanghai for the first time in his capacity as mayor of the central Taiwan city, made the remark while delivering a keynote speech at a Shanghai-Taiwan forum here.

Acknowledging that the industrial structures of Taichung and Shanghai are similar, Hu said the two cities could enhance corporation in the services sector.

Hu said his delegation contained owners of pastry stores that make sun cakes -- famous Taichung delicacy -- who are seeking opportunities to open bakeries in Shanghai.

Hu expressed his hope that Taichung's sun cakes could enter international markets.

According to data compiled by the city government, more than 20 million sun cakes are sold every year in Taichung, which is home to some 800 sun cake stores. The annual production value of sun cakes in Taichung is estimated to be up to NT$600 million (US$20.09 million).